Clinical oversight of Scotland’s care homes by NHS managers is set to continue into 2023 with an increased focus on collaboration – but providers remain concerned about the additional burden these arrangements place on staff.

A letter from the Scottish government says that the local oversight teams made up of key clinical and care leads from NHS Boards and local authorities introduced at the direction of Ministers during the pandemic should be renamed as Collaborative Care Home Support Teams – with any mention of ‘oversight’ be removed.

The controversial teams, intended to support care homes during an unprecedented time of crisis, have been long criticised by providers for their “big brother” approach that has damaged staff morale and added to a lack of sustainability within the sector.

Scottish Care, which represents the largest group of independent care providers in Scotland, has welcomed the shift to a more collaborative approach, but, in a statement, says funding arrangements will continue to put additional pressure on care homes:

“Scottish Care welcomes this shift to a collaborative approach and hopes it will be an opportunity to design and deliver a process that brings together expertise in a way that will make a difference for people living in care homes such as better access to NHS services and support.

“Concerns remain however that yet again, resource (previously c. £32m) has only gone into the NHS and government parts of the collaborative which, by leaving care homes out, reinforces any misunderstandings of the purpose, value and role of care homes and their staff and, worse, puts additional burden on them at a time of significant systemic pressure.”

The letter co-penned by Scotland’s Chief Social Work Adviser, Chief Nursing Officer and Interim Director Social Care says the clinical and care oversight arrangements have shown ‘considerable value’.

Local arrangements have generally worked best where conditions have been created for a partnership approach which has fostered mutual respect, trust and equal voice, the letter continues.

Care home providers have voiced concerns that the teams have contributed to over-regulation of the sector which has led to an overemphasis on safety at the expense of resident and staff wellbeing.

Scottish Care CEO, Donald Macaskill, told attendees of his organisation’s annual conference that over regulation has “neutered out life” within care homes.

The government letter says the approach of the care home support teams should move away from an inspection model, which it says has caused confusion in the sector, and teams should not use Care Inspectorate terminology, including making recommendations on areas of improvement.

The updated collaborative teams will also provide assurance to Ministers over transitions to care home from hospital, where timely hospital discharge is to be a ‘key element’ of the teams’ consideration.

Read more: Over regulation “neuters life” in care homes; NHS care home oversight led to ‘confusion’; Social care regulator flags course correction

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